AAPI Joy: AAPI Voices, Then & Now
Saturday, May 16, 2026
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Central Library
Celebrate the diversity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles at AAPI Joy, a free festival for all ages. Explore the City’s rich AAPI heritage and join us in forging a shared future of acceptance, cooperation, and inspiration with the greater Los Angeles community.
Event Schedule
Maguire Gardens
UCLA Jade Lotus Lion Dance
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Location: Maguire Gardens
Audience: All ages
Join us for a lion dance performance from the UCLA Jade Lotus Lion Dance.
Taper Auditorium
Carlos Bulosan Book Club Awards
Time: 11:20 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
Presented by the Friends of Echo Park Library, the Carlos Bulosan Book Club Awards honors distinguished Filipino American literary advocates for their contributions to storytelling, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Included will be award presentations, brief honoree remarks, and a moderated conversation on literature, memory, and community.
Kayamanan Ng Lahi
Time: 12:10 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
Kayamanan Ng Lahi, translated as treasures of our people, is a family-oriented Philippine folk art and dance organization based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1990, Kayamanan Ng Lahi's mission statement is to inspire transformation through cultural understanding and artistic expression.
Koto and Nihon Buyo Performance
Time: 12:50 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
A special collaboration of Japanese traditional dance and koto music. Discover the elegance and spirit of Japan through movement and beautiful sound.
East West Players present Tam Tran Goes to Washington
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: Teens and adults
Tam Tran, a UCLA graduate and filmmaker, loves Radiohead and spending time with her best friend Cinthya. Both Tam and Cinthya are undocumented Americans fighting for their right to dream. Written by Elizabeth Wong and directed by Rona Par.
Meeting Room A
Dr. Sara Pol-Lim, Author of Coming to Terms with Historical Trauma
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Join us in an engaging discussion with Dr. Pol-Lim as she shares her memoir, Coming to Terms with Historical Trauma. Dr. Pol-Lim was a youth survivor of the Cambodian genocide and is currently working on an oral history project with the LA County Department of Mental Health.
Oliver Wang, Author of Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles
Time: 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Oliver Wang is a professor of sociology at CSU-Long Beach and the author of Cruising J-Town. He is a regular writer on music, arts and culture for outlets including NPR's All Things Considered and the Los Angeles Times.
Nguyên Trần, Author of Adventures in Starry Kitchen
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Come listen and discuss all things Asian food and the absolute crazy tomfoolery that was Starry Kitchen. Nguyen Tran is a former restaurateur, accidental chef, and infamous wearer of a banana suit.
Meeting Room B
Coffee Culture in Korea
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: Adults
Explore the vibrant coffee culture of Korea. Join us for a program where you'll learn about its history and trends!
Hong Kong Street Food with Chef Phoebe Chow
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: All ages
A journey through Hong Kong's culinary evolution from the 1940s to the present day. A cooking demonstration for bubble egg waffles and steamed rice cakes will follow.
Teen’Scape
Aimee Phan, Author of The Lost Queen
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Aimee Phan is the author of The Lost Queen, a young adult fantasy duology. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and USA Today. She teaches as a professor at the California College of the Arts.
Stacey H. Lee, Author of Kill Her Twice
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Stacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, Stacey is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement.
Lei Making for Teens with Leilani Huggins
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Learn to make a small lei with Leilani, a Hawaiian floral artist and lei maker based in Los Angeles. Spreading the aloha spirit and uniting all who love lei.
Children’s Picture Book Room
Kim-Hoa Ung, Author of A Gift for Nai Nai
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
Kim-Hoa Ung is a Chinese American author-illustrator and amigurumi artist who explores family relationships and immigrant life in her stories.
Angie Kang, 2026 Caldecott Honor Winner of Our Lake
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
Angie Kang is the author-illustrator of Our Lake, which received a Caldecott Honor. This program consists of an art demonstration and book signing.
Livia Blackburne, Author of Bing’s Cherries
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne researches the neuroscience of reading while writing books that get into people's heads.
International Language’s Learning Area
Where I Belong: Book Introduction & Guided Exercises
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon introduce their book on healing trauma and embracing Asian American identity through reflective exercises and storytelling.
Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes, Author of Hula
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i. She is the author of Hula, named a Best Book of the Summer by Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE.
Naomi Hirahara, Author of Terminal Island
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Naomi Hirahara discusses the birth and destruction of Terminal Island's Fish Harbor, a vibrant Japanese American community in Los Angeles Harbor.
Art’s Sports Room
Hula Dance Workshop
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Come and learn how to dance the Hukilau.
Sumo Yoga
Time: 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Sumo Yoga redefines fitness by embracing all body types, promoting strength and self-acceptance inspired by the Japanese saying "Ten people, ten colors".
Japanese Folk Dance Workshop
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Team Kawachiondo is a Los Angeles-based group dedicated to sharing the traditional Japanese folk dance Kawachi Ondo. Come watch and dance together!
Thornton Courtyard
Lei Making for Adults
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Thornton Courtyard
Audience: Adults
Learn to make a small lei with Leilani, a Hawaiian floral artist and lei maker based in Los Angeles.
Children’s Courtyard
Mahjong Workshop
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Children’s Courtyard
Audience: All ages
Learn how to play Mahjong with the Mahjong Fan Club! Join us for a beginner-friendly introduction to the basic rules and gameplay.
Octavia Lab
Cosplay for Science Presents: Storytelling, Research, and Making Science Wearable
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Octavia Lab
Audience: Teens and adults
Join Gabriel-Philip Santos for an interactive presentation exploring how cosplay can make science more engaging. To register, please email rsvpoctavialab@lapl.org
ERTC
Hanbok Display and Korean Traditional Fabric Art: Learn to Make a Money-Holder
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: ERTC
Audience: All ages
Learn to craft a simple money pouch using traditional Korean fabric. Join us for this hands-on class!
Rotunda
Origami, Korean Writing, and Henna Art
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Varies by activity)
Location: Rotunda
Audience: Various
Ongoing activities including Origami with JANM, Korean writing with King Sejong Institute, and Henna Art/Hopes for kids and teens.
TECO-LA
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
Location: Rotunda
Audience: All ages
Taiwanese Arts & Heritage Coloring, Costumes, Calligraphy, Games & Books with TECO-LA & NTUST
